Travel Agent Discounts on Car Leasing

werdnanostaw on 09/11/2016 - 20:49

We are going to Europe in December for 5 weeks (we're going to drive from Paris to the southern part of Spain so it shouldn't be too cold) and we are going to lease a Renault for the whole time that we are there. The lease cost is about $2200 or $63/day which is a good price for a fully insured vehicle.

After a search of OB for "travel agent" discount I found the following post from 2014:

Travel Agent Kickbacks - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/163012

that indicates that bookings through Autoeurope, who do Renault leasing, may pay the travel agent a commission of 20%.

Do you know of any travel agent (in Perth or online) who will rebate a significant percentage of their commission to me? 50% ($220 off) would be nice but that may be optimistic.

I am planning to book the air tickets online directly with the airline because I don't think there's much "fat" in the price and also there's less chance of something going wrong.

However, is there any reason why I should book through a TA? Previously, if you used Flight Centre's Lowest Airfare Guarantee to price beat a competitor's price they waived credit card fees but this appears to no longer be available.

http://www.flightcentre.com.au/lowest-airfare-guarantee-faqs

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  [Deactivated] on 09/11/2016 - 22:06

  However, is there any reason why I should book through a TA?

  Travel agents will often have access to other discount fares, that aren't available on the airline website, eg group rates, sale fares, etc

  On the flip side, travel agents can charge what they want to any changes before departure so tread with caution.

  I would look at skyscanner for an online travel agent and see if you can find a physical travel agent to match it (if there's a price difference between buying from airline directly)

  fully insured vehicle

  Check the T&C more closely - I'm sure they'll include a hefty excess/deductible. Further, an agency like autoeurope just passes your booking on to a local supplier (eg hertz, avis, etc). You can't really assess the T&C for the insurance before you pick up the vehicle.

  IMO - Get your own insurance.

  $63/day

  I would be looking for EUR 20-30/day, without insurance. Possibly a little more for a one-way rental.

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  werdnanostaw on 09/11/2016 - 23:43

  Thank you for your comments. I spend half my time providing similar advice to inexperienced, and even experienced, friends who aren't aware of the gotchas with car rental in Australia or overseas.

  However, what I am talking about is car leasing in France that I have been doing for 36 years.

  Through Renault, Peugeot or Citroen you can lease a car for a minimum of 21 days for a flagfall amount followed by a reasonable daily rate.

  For example, I am getting a Dacia Duster, because it has snow and mud tyres, that are "must have snow tyres or chains to proceed" legal for:

  21 days (minimum) $1,999.00
  14 extra days x $35.00 $490.00
  Pick Up Fee Free
  Return Fee Free
  Sub-total $2,489.00

  Discounts
  7 free days $245.00
  Sub-total $245.00

  Total cost $2,244.00

  I will also get another 3 free days loyalty bonus because I have rented Renaults many times (only once needed) since 2010.

  As you can see, the average daily rate becomes almost nothing for an extended lease, say 4 to 6 months that we usually have it for.

  IMPORTANT NOTE: Australians can only stay in Schengen countries (ie visa free area of Europe) for 90 days in 180 days so if you have the vehicle longer than 90 days you have to leave Schengen (leaving time to return car inside Schengen):

  UK, Ireland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and some countries of former Yugoslavia are outside Schengen.

  New Zealanders can stay for 90 days in any Schengen country.

  http://www.renaulteurodrive.com.au/

  In Europe I lease Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicles that are 110% covered.

  By that I mean none of the car rental fees / gotchas apply to this type of car leasing:

  • Underbody damage including rocker panels - check underneath car at collection and get check-in person to check and certify OK when you return vehicle
  • Overhead damage, ie roof - ditto
  • Tyres, wheels and wheel covers - ditto
  • Glass - make sure you check and register tiniest crack or chip
  • Uninsured driver of other vehicle even if you have taken out basic cover. You have to get UMP - Uninsured Motorist Protection
  • Loss of value due to damage
  • Transport to and from repair centre
  • Loss of income while vehicle is off road being repaired
  • Recovery after breakdown - this should be covered but tow truck will not transport you or your luggage due to public liability concerns so you may be left by side of road to find your own way.
  • Recovery after accident. Even if you take out Recovery insurance it only offers USD1000. At $10/mile you have 100 miles of recovery which will barely get you out of LA. Because most car rental operations are franchises the damaged vehicle has to be returned to where it was rented. If the accident for example takes place in Seattle which is 1100 miles from LA even with their insurance it will cost $10,000 to return vehicle. You need to get third party unlimited distance recovery insurance.
  • Admin fees
  • Fee recovery fees (Not a joke)
  • Smoking in vehicle fee, even if you don't smoke - Get check-in person to smell car and certify that it has no smoke smell
  • Toll road toll collection and admin fee - If you accidentally or intentionally use a toll road most don't have pay booths. You either have to rent a transponder (different companies may manage toll roads in different areas so transponder may not work) at a hideous daily rate (say $10/day) or they use number plate recognition. You may be able to find the web site for the toll company and pay it directly, but you may have to pre-register so it you won't be able to pay after the event. If you don't pay the toll yourself the car rental company will charge you an admin fee plus a daily toll road use fee that will be applied to whole of rental period even if you only use toll road on last day of rental.

  A few years ago on my last day with the vehicle after driving for 4 months completely unscathed from Paris to the Syrian border in Turkey on the Mediterranean, in Chartres I drove up onto a very low concrete bollard that I hadn't seen. The rocker panel was bent and the RHS doors wouldn't open. When I returned the vehicle to CDG Airport the next day the check-in guy shrugged and that was that.

  If repairs are required they will pay for accommodation and transport to the hotel while they are being carried out.

  Earlier this year I destroyed a tyre. Always make sure you destroy the tyre because getting a flat tyre repaired isn't covered. In my case it was an unintentional accident that legitimately took out the tyre because there was a displaced kerbstone that I hit as I was pulling in to park.

  After replacing the tyre I drove to the nearest Renault dealership (in Bratislava in Slovakia) where after a call to Paris it was arranged for a new tyre to be delivered. Because it wouldn't be available until the following day they paid for a taxi to and from a hotel and the overnight accommodation costs.

  They will pay for a rental car IN YOUR NAME for the duration of the repairs. I didn't take up this offer a few years ago while I was waiting 2 days for a new wheel to arrive (low profile tyres, alloy wheels and potholes are a bad mix!) because I didn't have the Spanish skills and time to be able to understand what the insurance would and wouldn't cover.

  Lost keys, flat battery and incorrect fuel are also covered.

  If the repairs will take longer than a specified time they will transport you back to Paris and give you a new vehicle.

  For these reasons I would never rent a car in Europe. I would always pick up a car for free at any of many locations in France or for a small delivery and return fee in adjoining countries:

  UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and Italy

  The car is fully covered in 42 countries.

  With regard to finding the best airfare I do use sites like I Want That Flight and Skyscanner but when it comes time to book the tickets I do it directly with the airline for the Irish reason; To be sure, to be sure.

  Unless…

  Someone can recommend a travel agent that will give me a kickback of a portion of the commission they receive for the car lease and / or air fares.